Jenna-Louise Coleman makes surprise appearance as Doctor Who kicks off

New Doctor Who star Jenna-Louise Coleman surprised viewers by appearing in the first episode of the new series, which was shown on BBC One last night.

Doctor Who’s new assistant Jenna-Louise Coleman made a surprise early appearance in Asylum Of The Daleks (Picture: BBC)

The actress, who will replace Karen Gillan as the Doctor’s new sidekick later this series, made an unexpectedly early debut in Asylum Of The Daleks, where she was seen trapped inside the skeleton of a Dalek, and apparently doomed.

Both she and writer Steven Moffat later thanked those fans who had already seen the episode – which premiered at BFI Southbank last month and was also shown at the Edinburgh International TV Festival – for keeping quiet about her appearance.

‘Boo! Hello! Hope we gave you a good surprise,’ the 26-year-old said. ‘Thanks to all the fans who kept it quiet! More to come…watch this space!’

Meanwhile Moffat told the Radio Times: ‘I hope you all got a nice surprise when Jenna popped up in Doctor Who several months early.

The current series will be the last to feature sidekicks Amy and Rory (Picture: BBC)

‘If so, that surprise came to you courtesy of the frankly magnificent ladies and gentlemen of the press, and of the many Doctor Who forums and blogs too.

‘This show has been seen at four separate screenings, across four different countries and yet not one person gave one spoiler,’ he added. ‘From all of us on Doctor Who, a heartfelt thank you for helping us tell our story.’

The episode saw Matt Smith, returning as The Doctor, and his current sidekicks Amy (Gillan) and Rory (Arthur Darvill) facing a prison for the universe’s most insane exterminators.

Next Saturday’s episode, Dinosaurs On A Spaceship, is set to spark a ratings battle with The X Factor, with the two shows due to overlap for ten minutes from 8:10pm.